Two families of mammalian lectin-like adhesion molecules, the selectins and the sialoadhesins, bind glycoconjugate ligands in a sialic acid-dependent manner. The sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin superfamily lectins, designated Siglecs or sialoadhesins, recognize sialylated ligands and play a key role in mediating sialic-acid dependent binding to cells. Siglec-15 (sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin 15), also known as CD33L3, is a 328 amino acid single-pass type I membrane protein that contai

The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily, and TIM family of proteins. CD4-positive T helper lymphocytes can be divided into types 1 (Th1) and 2 (Th2) on the basis of their cytokine secretion patterns. Th1 cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity to intracellular pathogens and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, whereas, Th2 cells are involved in the control of extracellular helminthic infections and the promotion of atopic and allergic diseases. T

Myosins are actin-based motor molecules with ATPase activity. Unconventional myosins serve in intracellular movements. Their highly divergent tails are presumed to bind to membranous compartments, which would be moved relative to actin filaments. In retina, myosin VIIa may play a role in trafficking of ribbon-synaptic vesicle complexes and renewal of the outer photoreceptors disks. In inner ear, it may maintain the rigidity of stereocilia during the dynamic movements of the bundle.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-TM7 family constitutes a group of class B G-protein coupled receptors, which includes CD97, EMR1 (EGF-like molecule containing mucin-like hormone receptor 1, designated F4/80 in mouse), EMR2, EMR3, FIRE, and ETL (1–3). These family members are characterized by an extended extracellular region with several N-terminal EGF domains, and are predominantly expressed on cells of the immune system (1–3). The EGF-TM7 protein family are encoded by a gene cluster on h

Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 (AIF1)or ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) is expressed selectively in microglia/macrophages and is a Ca2+-binding peptide produced by activated monocytes and microglial cells. It has been suggested that AIF1 expression is associated with chronic inflammatory processes. AIF1 is expressed by activated monocytes and might participate in a variety of pathogenic processes in the mammalian brain and in chronic transplant rejection. It has been show

Beclin 1 is the first identified mammalian gene to mediate autophagy and also has tumor suppressor and antiviral function. Autophagy, a process of bulk protein degradation through an autophagosomic lysosomal pathway, is important for differentiation, survival during nutrient deprivation, and normal growth control, and is often defective in tumor cells. Beclin 1 was originally isolated in a yeast two hybrid screen to identify Bcl 2 binding partners and maps to a tumor susceptibility locus o